After a few steps out in the new and unknown territory, IT stopped nervously. Every tree, every bush were potential dangerous places, hiding the most devious of hunters and predators. Every leaf that moved in the wind, every birds sound echoing throughout the place seemed to cause new pressure. IT needed to scout. But just sending out the golems would not help at all, after all they could hardly report back to him.

Quickly moving back to the tunnel where everything felt much more secure, IT cultivated some more mana and thought things through. The weirdest ideas came to mind, like burning down the forest or letting the golems search for food alone, while IT remained in the tunnel. But that would be a thing that a Queen would do, and it felt wrong doing so. After a few minutes of thinking, IT had a glorious idea.

Telepathy. If IT could talk to the golems, maybe they could report back? Immediately IT tried talking to the small earthly creatures, but all IT got were reactions. Nodding, pointing in a direction and falling over while spinning around where not the kind of things IT had hoped for. And the idea had been really good too. There had to be a way to let the golems communicate back.

Unable to find a decent answer in time, IT walked out into the forest again. With the utmost care IT deployed the golems to a tree, let them run around it and search for enemies. As soon as they gave a clear sign, IT moved up to the tree and continued the cycle. This whole process could hardly be called efficient, but doing some cultivation every time IT waited made this rather worth while. Mentally IT prepared a map, noting every tree and bush IT saw outside in order to prepare for flight. No good running in the wrong direction and getting killed just because IT could not remember the way.

The forest loomed with danger, a creature, almost as big as IT headed out of a bush. Spiked with needles as long as a leg and hundreds at that! Luckily that one just passed and did not want to fight. IT had been so afraid, IT had hidden behind the golems. A forest was really a frightening place. Hopefully there were not more of these creatures. One or two the golems could maybe defeat, but what if they had abilities too? No, better not risk that. IT would stay far away of these needle monsters.

Birds were dangerous too, they were chirping all the time. Their battle songs just screamed ambush to IT. Hopefully a big one would not just swoop down and kidnap IT. In the air, IT was helpless. Maybe it would be a good idea to upgrade wings? Back inside that had seemed like such a waste, but now? Maybe…

Drowning in thought about birds and their sharp claws, IT hardly noticed that the golems had stumbled upon something interesting. Only after one of the smaller golems repeatedly hit IT with the plumb hand, IT was able to stop staring at very devious bird, that had been hacking on a tree for minutes. Smashing the head against wood continuously without being hurt? Would this bird even take any damage from a magic spell? Forget about being hit by a golem, that would not do anything. Hopefully that bird was peaceful…

Focusing IT’s attention on the golem, IT noticed the countless fruits that were lying around on the ground. Apples. A lot of them. This would be great for growing! But without a proper hideout, IT just did not feel safe from the birds and spike monsters. Ordering the golems to find a cave, hideout or something similar, IT remained pressed against a tree for minutes.

Luckily IT’s body was shaped like a tree branch, allowing IT to blend into the surrounding forest. Cultivating some mana and always prepared to fire off a fireball at predators, waiting time passed quickly and the golems returned soon enough. Following them, IT was curious about what they found. Maybe a large empty tree? Hiding inside a tree would be quite safe. Unless this head smashing bird would return. Thinking about that, IT really hoped there would be no empty tree but something else.

Luckily the golems had hit a real jackpot. A little further ahead, the forest began growing up the mountainside and there was a cave, empty and big enough to hide in. Actually the cave was rather big in general. IT could have fitted at least sixty larger sized golems inside comfortably. The entry however was rather narrow, making this a pretty decent hiding spot.

Then IT sent out two of the golems. They were ordered to go and pick up fruits on the forest ground, returning them into the cave and then go searching again. If something strange or dangerous happened, the larger golem was ordered to fight while the smaller one was to report back. The report would be hard to manage, but IT would think about that later. Stockpiling fruits was the main goal for now.

Meanwhile the second tier one golem was gathering twigs and rocks and piled them up in front of the cave, to make the opening less obvious. Entering was still rather easy, but with all those branches hanging down over the entryway, it would be harder to spot. Cultivating mana continuously was important too. The spell needed to be mastered as soon as possible for growth!

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The excess mana was spent on the exchange spell in order to gain energy. Soon it was clear that the forest provided far more food, that IT could ever eat. The golems were efficient and hard workers and one fourth of the cave was filled up within the day. How were there so many fruits and so little animals trying to consume them? They were not poisoned, IT would have noticed after eating so many… Strange indeed.

[You have reached Level 8]

[You have reached Earth Magic stage 2]

IT happily looked down the stat window and decided to spend the five points. For a moment IT held on, kind of wanting to use that on wings, so IT investigated the information behind the wings.

[Wings cannot be used for flight, unless level is equal or higher than body size.]

A whole level just to be able to fly… And growing was now on priority again, since there was enough food, IT needed to eat more. The mana pool was also getting rather small. Concluding on everything IT stuck to the plan of investing into mana regeneration. It had been rewarding so far, and magic seemed very useful. Maybe IT could find a spell to fly later? That would be much more practical...

[Profile] - [Magical Being] - [Level 8]

[Energy: 47/5.000]

[Power Level: 56]

[Size: 5] - [Upgrade: 1.000 E.]

[Enhance Body] - [Remaining Points: 5]

[Eyesight: 5: Max.]

[Legs: 3]

[Stomach: 160: Max.]

[Wings: 0]

[Mana: 19/1.600]

[Mana Regeneration: 1 per 5 seconds]

[Magic: Talent]

[General Magic: 3]

[Fire Magic: 0]

[Water Magic: 0]

[Air Magic: 0]

[Earth Magic: 2]

The cultivation spell had also advanced quite a bit under the Earth Magic stage 1 and with the further increase IT would master the spell soon enough. A very hard spell to master. The hardest so far. Hopefully the upgrade would be worthwhile.

[Cultivation: First Earthly Layer] - [Upgrade: Free.]

[Earth Magic - Mastery 00.29%]

[Uses 1 Mana over 10 seconds to create 2 Mana]

[Restriction: You Cannot Move.]

Quickly IT invested the newly awarded points into mana regeneration. As expected the increase was really good. [Mana Regeneration: 3 per second] With a increase of this amount eating would really be rather pointless. Just exchanging mana for energy alone would result in quite the growth rate. Eating was not necessary anymore. It was a strange feeling, so IT headed to the storage and ate a whole bunch of tasty fruits. After that it did not feel so bad anymore. As long as there was taste everything was fine.

Feeling a bit stronger, IT headed out into the forest again. Just outside the cave and only a few steps away, nothing crazy. Of course escorted by ten tier two golems. That was the bare minimum of protection, IT was comfortable with. For the first time IT noticed the massive castle in the background. That was where IT had been born. How the friendly giant would react, when he saw that IT was gone?

Most likely the friendly giant would be happy about the cool tunnel IT had made, connecting forest and room. Very practical, and rats would be hunter much easier now. IT was really very clever. Thinking back, maybe IT should have left something that told the friendly giant where IT was going. Not that IT could not find him anymore. IT liked the guy.

Was the castle the reason why the many fruits had not been eaten? It was a rather frightening sight from afar. But surely the spike monsters would not fear a castle, right? Walking back to the spots, that had been covered in fruit, IT spotted a spiky monster eating a fruit. A golem was holding its distance, careful not to upset the thing. IT had ordered all golems to do so. Very smart not to provoke a potential enemy.

IT had also ordered the golems to pick up rocks and throw them at birds, but their aim was bad and so far they had only hitten trees, the ground and other golems… IT would find a spell against birds later. Very important.

Taking mental notes on various improvements IT should make on the magic arsenal, IT finally spotted another big enemy. The dog like creature was nearly as high as one of IT’s bigger golems, but far longer. Two tails, made of very fluffy white and orange fur the creature just jumped away and ran when a golem came close. Fluffy creatures were really fast runners. They about four times as fast as a golem. Maybe they could go even faster? IT took a mental note to find something to slow down enemies too.

Heading back to headquarters, or the [Destroyer 3000 Cave], as IT liked to call the thing, IT noticed that the branches had been ripped off the entry. Did something invade IT’s home? Preparing for battle, IT gathered all the golems together and stormed the entry. Very carefully they entered one by one and IT followed soon after. After a quick search, there was nothing missing and everything seemed in order.

IT sent the golems outside to fix the entry and then scout for food again, but the feeling that something was strange kind of stuck. After continuing gathering food and converting mana into energy while eating IT finally was able to grow again. Doing so increased the stomach size to 350 and the mana pool to 3.500. As usual IT was hungry right after growing so IT had a small feast on the stored fruits.

While eating IT really seemed strange that there had been so little increase in food lately. Had the golems not found anything? No, they came back regularly, even as IT was eating just now. What was going on?

Searching the cave again, IT also ordered the golems to take the food and store all of it on the other side of the cave. Quickly it became apparent what had been wrong. After removing all the food there were only two big green creatures remaining on the floor. They were rather ugly and kind of dorky looking, with sharp nails on hands and feet and only clothed in shirts, that were far too large for them.

Clearly they had stolen them from friendly giant or his friends. Stealing, green, ugly. These creatures could only be one thing, and one thing only.

They were GOBLINS.